The Yankees' stern and oft-labeled arrogant owner, George Steinbrenner, died today from a heart attack at the age of 80.


No love lost for Steinbrenner from this vantage point, as back in the day he would frequently gloat and issue press releases urging his players to play better or get shipped out. He'd trash his players in the press if they were wasting his money or costing his team contention. (NY sports radio was all over that shit.) He's part of the reason the Yankees and their elitist fans think they are entitled to everything, and also the reason why they seem to get everything. He put that team in the powerful financial position they are in today. The Yankees are the richest team in baseball (all of sports worldwide, probably), and Steinbrenner wasn't even near the top of the list of richest sports owners. He's just the one guy who wanted to win so badly that he put his money where his mouth was instead of pocketing most of it.

For all his faults, fans of every sports franchise should wish they had an owner who cared that much.

Steinbrenner was never the friendliest individual, but contrary to popular belief, he did have a heart. Four years ago when Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was recovering from lymphoma, Steinbrenner was the only other team to send Get Well wishes, and did so in the form of a huge flower display that could barely fit in Lester's hospital room. He was also a big donor to Red Sox charity events. In 2004, when the Red Sox came back from 0-3 to knock the Yankees out in Yankee Stadium in Game 7 of the ALCS, Steinbrenner left the stadium lights on early into the next morning so Sox players, fans, and media could have their moment... on his turf.

Even though George's two sons have taken over control of the team in the past few years due to his declining health, hopefully he secretly willed ownership of the team to a homeless guy who has to trade away everyone just to make ends meet. We can only hope.


R.I.P. George. The owner I loved to hate.

The one thing about George was love him or hate him he was a kind man, when I met the guy he was touring Walter Reed Medical Center in DC shaking hands with wounded soldiers, he donated workout equipment to the rehab center there and did a charity for homeless veterans for that I saw a side of a person the media never mentioned.

He was a great guy. Yanks are gonna miss him.